Polar explorer Hadow takes on Arctic Ocean trek

February 24, 2010

In this undated image obatined from www.catlinarcticsurvey.com, British explorer Pen Hadow drills to measure ice thickness in the North Pole. Hadow on Thursday unveiled his latest challenge, leading a team of scientists to investigate rising acid levels in the Arctic Ocean that threaten marine life.

British polar explorer Pen Hadow on Thursday unveiled his latest challenge, leading a team of scientists to investigate rising acid levels in the Arctic Ocean that threaten marine life.

Hadow and leading international researchers will probe the effects of rising carbon dioxide emissions on the acid levels of the ocean when their arctic adventure gets under way next month.

The two-month Catlin Arctic Survey 2010 will included a trek hundreds of miles long across floating sea ice in extreme conditions, facing freezing temperatures and polar bears.

Results from the expedition will be made available to scientists in Europe, Canada and the US.

Believed to be one of the first expeditions of its kind, it will collect samples to shed light on rising acidity that experts warn threaten an array of species with shells which include lobsters, crabs and oysters.

"It's my view that never has there been a greater need for exploration if we are to understand how the natural world works," said Hadow, who came to public attention when in 2003 he became the first person to trek solo from Canada to the Geographic North Pole.

"Hardly anyone goes to the Arctic Ocean -- they don't see it, they don't experience it and, inevitably, the understanding is low on a global basis of what the Arctic Ocean is."

Scientists predict 10 percent of the Arctic surface could be corrosive by 2018 and 50 percent by 2050 -- levels not seen on earth for millions of years.

Although most international attention has focused on the effects of carbon dioxide emissions in pushing up temperatures, scientists believe dangerous levels of ocean acidity are a problem that also needs exploring.

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